Cerebrospinal angiostrongyliasis in five captive tamarins (Sanguinus spp)

Abstract

Four cotton-top tamarins (Sanguinus oedipus oedipus) and one emperor tamarin (S imperator subgrisescens) housed in a zoo became depressed, anorexic, paraparetic and eventually paralysed. The animals died within 5 days to 18 months of the appearance of clinical signs. Histological examination showed nonsuppurative and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, and metastrongyle nematode larvae were found within subarachnoid spaces of all animals and within the spinal cord of one. Intact larvae with features consistent with Angiostrongylus cantonensis were recovered from the brain of one animal. This parasite is the classical cause of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in many parts of the world and the diagnosis can be strongly suspected on clinical grounds. In endemic areas like south-east Queensland, protection of captive animals against infection with A cantonensis is a difficult balance between providing a stimulating, natural setting and eliminating potentially infectious definitive, intermediate and paratenic hosts. This is the first report of cerebrospinal angiostrongyliasis in tamarins and nonhuman primates in Australia.

Eosinophilic meningoencephalomyelitis in an orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) caused byAngiostrongylus cantonensis

“…The only case previously documented in Florida occurred in 2004, where a case of fatal A. cantonensis meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in a white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) from Zoo Miami (formerly Miami Metrozoo) (Duffy et al 2004). Other species reported with clinical disease from this parasite include humans, non-human primates, dogs, horses, opossum, mice, birds, and various other zoo animals (Gardiner et al 1990;Alicata 1991;Carlisle et al 1998;Kim et al 2002;Duffy et al 2004;Gelis et al 2011;Lunn et al 2012). Also known as the rat lungworm, A. cantonensis is a nematode that normally lives in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery of various species of rat, the definitive host (Alicata 1991).…”

“…In humans, the disease is most often self-limiting with 2-8 weeks of severe headache and malaise (Hochberg et al 2001). The cases reported in non-human primates have been predominantly fatal which may reflect underdiagnosis of selflimiting cases, challenges with treatment administration or compliance, or may indicate a more aggressive pathophysiology in these animals (Gardiner et al 1990;Carlisle et al 1998;Kim et al 2002;Duffy et al 2004). This patient demonstrated several typical findings including fever, malaise, fecal retention, ascending paralysis, peripheral eosinophilia, and CSF eosinophilic pleocytosis.…”

Fatal Parastrongylus dujardini Infection in Captive Callitrichids

“…Formalin-fixed and alcohol-fixed samples of adult nematodes collected from 8 primates (Nos. 5,9,10,[12][13][14], and 14 rodents were sent to the University of Reims for identification. The anterior and posterior aspects of the worm (especially copulatory bursa from males) was cleared and preserved in Amman lactophenol between slide and cover slide and examined by light microscopy.…”

“…They are mainly parasites of rodents and carnivores. 2,4 Two species are well-known pathogens in humans and nonhuman primates: Angiostrongylus cantonensis causes eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis, 5,10 and Angiostrongylus costaricensis is responsible for abdominal angiostrongylosis. 3,9,[12][13][14][15][16][17]19,20 The purpose of this report is to describe gross and histologic lesions and morphologic characteristics of nematodes in 14 callitrichids with cardiopulmonary angiostrongylosis due to Parastrongylus dujardini.…”

Molecular and pathological studies on Angiostrongylus species in southeast Queensland

“…Apart from rats and dogs, A. cantonensis has also been reported in many different animal species in Australia including captive Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) 42 , horses 43 , captive rufous bettongs (Aepyprymnus rufescens) 44 , captive tamarins (Sanguinus spp) 45 , wild black-and greyheaded flying foxes (Pteropus species) 46 , yellow tailed black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus) 47 and, most recently, tawny frogmouths (Podargus strigoides) 47,48,49 and brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) 48 . The presence of A. cantonensis has also been suggested to be a threat to Australian endangered bird species such as the Eastern bristlebird, Dasyornis brachypterus, which prey on gastropods 36 .…”